The final matchday of Copa Sudamericana Group E brings Racing Club and Independiente Petrolero to Estadio Presidente Juan Domingo Perón on 27 May 2026 with nothing on the line. Botafogo and Caracas wrapped up the two qualification spots weeks ago, so all that remains is a dead rubber in Avellaneda and, for Petrolero, a last chance to avoid leaving the competition without a single point from six games. Racing won the first leg 3-1 in Sucre in April but the bigger storyline heading into this match is a managerial crisis: Gustavo Costas was dismissed around 24 May, leaving a caretaker to prepare this fixture while names like Hernán Crespo and Luis Zubeldía circle the permanent role.
No prior meetings between Costas and Thiago Leitão exist at senior level and with Costas now gone the head to head is academic anyway. Leitão was appointed in March and has overseen a poor continental record with Petrolero. Racing's Sudamericana campaign produced one win (the 3-1 over Petrolero in April), two draws and two defeats, whereas Petrolero arrive winless in five continental outings having conceded heavily throughout. Petrolero beat Blooming 3-1 in the Bolivian league and held Always Ready to a goalless draw, which is about the ceiling of what domestic form can tell you ahead of a trip to Avellaneda.
Racing are missing Valentín Carboni with an ACL tear alongside Gastón Martirena and there are fitness doubts over Rodríguez and Solari, though the hosts are still expected to field a recognisable starting eleven. Petrolero come in healthier: defender Eduardo returned from suspension and Leitão has no significant injury concerns, giving him the chance to set a compact defensive block and sit in.
Racing under Costas were a possession oriented side that pressed high, though the transition to caretaker management adds genuine uncertainty about how they will line up. There is not much historical head to head record to fall back on either, given that the April first leg in Sucre was effectively the only senior meeting and Racing won it 3-1. Ecuadorian referee Augusto Aragón will officiate with VAR handled by Peru's Kevin Pazmiño.
Win probability estimates sit around 70-90%, though the caretaker situation and Racing's absences narrow that range. Petrolero held Always Ready to a goalless draw in the Bolivian league, so they are not incapable of keeping a clean sheet when set up to do so. If Racing go ahead, the temptation to manage the game in a match that means nothing could open space for Petrolero late on, scoring against a Racing side that has stopped pressing. Costas's dismissal has rattled the camp, the attacking options are thinner than they would be in a full strength side and a flat caretaker performance in a dead rubber has its own particular kind of unpredictability. Predicted score: 1-1.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
